LS2 V8 Miata Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 I know, I know, I'm NOT currently building a V8 Z-car, even though I have in the past. I have a history in cutting edge, stuffing of big American V8 horsepower into small foreign cars and making them work well. I'm participating in quite a few different online forums for Engine swaps, LS V8s, foreign/jap car conversions, etc. for some fundemental reasons, I absorb a lot of innovative ideas that help me along to building a greater performing V8 conversion project and I've found I can help a lot of other people in the process too. I have a few things to offer in that I've been an advanced technical/mechanical, hands on guy since the 60s. I've owned 3 early model Z-cars and converted my first V8 Z-car in 1988. I'm here for fun, entertainment & education and I really look forward to talking to you guys. You can see a small gathering of some of my current V8 Miata project's pictures at: http://photobucket.com/albums/d63/LS2V8Miata/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 very cool project! also welcome! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veritech-z Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 There seems to be an influx of newbe's the last week or so...maybe it was Pinks? or maybe just summer vacation? I hope everybody turns out to be cool. Welcome to the board Miata! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNeedForZ Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 There seems to be an influx of newbe's the last week or so...maybe it was Pinks? or maybe just summer vacation? I hope everybody turns out to be cool. Welcome to the board Miata! A new member isn't necessarily equal to a newbie.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veritech-z Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 A new member isn't necessarily equal to a newbie.... Fair enough. I've just noticed a bunch of old threads getting dug out of the archives, and people posting about stuff that has been talked about a bunch of times as if it was the first time anyone had ever heard of it. Wasn't commenting on this guy so much, just making an observation that there were a lot of "new members" popping up. I didn't mean that to be a negative observation. Plus this guy seems pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS2 V8 Miata Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share Posted July 5, 2006 Thanks Guys!! Really lookin' forward to checking out your Awsome V8 Z-cars. Attached is my old 74' V8 Z project (1988). Even though I've been a GM guy my whole life I have done a couple of Fords. I even gone the other way and put a blown chevy small block into a 1967 427 Cobra SC. I've never been here before on any Threads, new or old but I am an Old Guy. I've Drag raced since the late 60s and even ran a Pro-Gas Vega in the 81' Winternationals to a record & class win, however don't do it anymore. Road racing on our 5 tracks here and Willow Springs and Laguna seca is what does it for me now. Again, thanks for the welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Very nice projects!, and welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS2 V8 Miata Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share Posted July 5, 2006 Jeeezzz Mike, that thing is SICK!!!! I love it:mrgreen: Question, assuming you used a hydraulic throw-out bearing with your T-56, what did you use for your clutch master cylinder and are you happy (trouble free)? Thanks again for the welcome! - Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-Gad Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Sweet projects!! welcome!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Jeeezzz Mike' date=' that thing is SICK!!!! I love it:mrgreen: Question, assuming you used a hydraulic throw-out bearing with your T-56, what did you use for your clutch master cylinder and are you happy (trouble free)? Thanks again for the welcome! - Lee[/quote'] Thanks!, I didn't use a hydraulic throw-out bearing, I used a T5 slave cylinder, and a Wilwood 7/8 master cylinder. Very happy with it, with no troubles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Poly Zmanaustin Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Miata, You are welcome here. Project is looking great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olie05 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 yes welcome! LS2 in a miata!! sweet! how does it do in the corners compared to a standard engined miata? (besides the obvious ability to power oversteer) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 I know, I know, I'm NOT currently building a V8 Z-car, even though I have in the past. Welcome to the board. There are 2 of those Miata V8 beasts in our area near Atlanta. I was at the local performance garage today and one of them was in there. Ford turbo powered. Mechanic said it had 465 at the rear wheels. That thing should haul! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ULISES Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Welcome! I believe we had met over @ ls1tech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS2 V8 Miata Posted July 6, 2006 Author Share Posted July 6, 2006 Yup, we did meet before ULISES, I'm still in progress too. Deja I know both of those guys & their Miatas. The Atlanta performance shop you must be talkin' about is Speed South eh? Olie05, I'm about 70% finished but have almost 4 years of road course seat time in my Miata before. I was partially finished installing an LS1 before I pulled it and went the LS2. I also fortunately have 3 friends sporting LS1 & LS6s driving them so not a lot of performance mysteries reamain. Locally (in town) I have 2 Ford modded V8 Miata buddies, Bill and Ernie and we do track days together, so quite a bit of my design theory comes from practical application too, albeit Fords, firsthand. My achievable weight balance should still be very close to 50/50 and with all the OEM Miata crap I dumped versus the total additions in drive train & structural I'll be around 160-180 Lbs heavier, approx 2600-2700 Lbs total. A recent Thread I started in another forum was entitled V8 Miatas POST-UP, here's the immediate response numbers I got for V8 Miatas and I already had been talking fairly frequently with a lot of them exchanging tech info. Ford V8 conversions are the most prevalent I believe due to much lower conversion costs mainly associated with, engine availability/costs and a small volume conversion kit manufacturer in California. We (GM fans) have to design and one-off fabricate everything for our LSX V8 conversions and our engine/drive train combos consume, way more hard earned dollars and precious space in these tiny cars. 34 - V8 Miatas posted up 24 - Ford V8 small block based Miatas, primarily 5.0s modded to various cubic inches, strokers, aluminum heads, mostly fuel-injected, 3 Supercharged (Paul, Tom & Vic's home brewed SC) 6 - Chevrolet V8s, 2 cast iron block SBC, one Tuned Port Injected, one Carbed, 4 GM Gen III, LSX aluminum V8 based 1 - Aluminum Cadillac 4.9 V8 (Steve J) 2 - Rover V8s, 1 in the UK (Andy) and 1 USA - 4.9 Rover (Cory) 1 - Toyota / Lexus V8 (Andris) LET'S ROCK !! I mean uh, NETWORK !! Thanks again for the warm welcome guys, - Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Lee, We're a bunch of motorheads here, so you won't get a bunch of purist remarks regarding the superiority of the Z car to your Miata Seriously, you're like us and not wedded to being brand specific--we just dig Z cars in general and how to make them faster, etc. The Miata is great and even better with a V8, right? You're among friends here, welcome. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks280zt Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 nice car, you car has been posted here before by someone else who found it on the net, so ur already famous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie-GNZ Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Hey Lee, welcome. They have not thrown me out yet so you are probably a keeper :D Awesome car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS2 V8 Miata Posted July 6, 2006 Author Share Posted July 6, 2006 Scotty that car is insane. 10.17 in a street car is NUTZ!!! Thanks for your comments Scotty, beautiful car, GNX-REX !! Sparks, I now understand Veritech-Zs comments about "old archives", I've never been here (this forum) myself before though, my project's been around the world online, probably old pictures with the LS1 in the car (see attached). Davy Z, I love Z-cars!! If I had it in the budget I'd also be building a White (black limo tinted windows) 300 Z with an LS7, a 200 shot Nitrous kit, a Getrag six-speed, trick suspension, Ford 8.8 IRS posi with about 3:50 gear. Did I mention the 200 MPH, GPS calibrated speedo? I'm a 6'2" 280 Lb guy driving a Laguna blue Miata (chick car). Davy, I don't really have any sensibilities left to offend, as a matter of fact this latest project is partly about disrespect. It's funny when I decided to try roadracing I was commited to building a 98-2000 Firebird Formula. My buddy Billy talked me into Auto-Xin' his Miata at an event. I had so much fun and both of us finished in the top 30 out of 242 cars, in a stock Miata! I loved the first moment I rode in a 1967 Sunbeam Tiger V8, that really started it for me (small car V8 power), but I also never forgot the first time, that look of total surprise on the owner's face of a gorgeous Turbo 911, when he glanced over to see me flyin' past him in my V8 240Z, after he thought he dropped me, his 911 still under hard, hard acceleration. The greatest challenges posed in my current Miata project are in maintaining the scrubline and fitting everything in without hood mods or any exterior ques that give it away immediately (other than the sound of course) What better fun than spankin' an egocentric Ferrari, Porsche or BMW owner with a "little blue, chick car sleeper" eh? Thanks again guys for making an old motorhead feel welcome! - Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 I loved the first moment I rode in a 1967 Sunbeam Tiger V8, LOL, I couldn't agree more. My first new car was a '65 Sunbeam Tiger. It got T-boned by a huge Ford station wagon 6 months later and I got a '66 as its replacement. The car was a blast but everything Britsh broke, imagine that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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